Scouting report: Northern Illinois at BYU

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah

Radio: WLBK 1360-AM, 98.9-FM, 560-AM The Answer

TV: ESPNU

Series history: First meeting.

Fast facts: NIU and BYU are both coming off open dates; NIU enters the game on a three-game winning streak while the Cougars' last contest was a 49-23 home win over Hawaii. ... In 75 games as NIU's head coach, Rod Carey is 48-27 overall for a .640 winning percentage; he is 11-12 in regular season nonconference games, including a school record four wins over Big Ten opponents. ... Left tackle Max Scharping, a 46-game starter, is a graduate student who will earn his master's degree in December. He was named the MAC's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week.

Prediction: BYU 24, NIU 20